Toy amusement device for simulating aircraft in flight



June 9, 1942. H. A. KROLL 2,285,988

TOY AMUSEMENT DEVICE FOR SIMULATINGAIR CRAFT IN FLIGHT Filed Dec. 16,1939 2" Sheets-Sheet 1 dlzzmok M W ATTORNEYS H. A. KROLL June 9, 1942'TOY AMUSEMENT DEVICE FOR SI MULATING AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT Filed Dec. 16,1939 2 $hee'bS-She et ,2

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ATTORNEYS Patented June 9, 1942 TOY AMUSEMENT DEVICE FOR SIMULATINGAIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT Harry A. Kroll, Buffalo, N. Y. Application December16, 1939, Serial No. 309,648

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a toy amusement device and more particularlyto a cable operated amusement device whereby a toy airplane is propelledalong an irregularly circuitous track by means of a cable within thetrack to simulate the movements of a stunting airplane.

It is therefore the principal object of the invention to provide anamusement device for simulating an aircraft in flight comprising acircuitous track along which the miniature aircraft is propelled, thetrack being preferably made up of tubular track sections joined togetherthrough which an endless cable or cord is propelled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel amusement devicewhich can be readily set up for operation by joining together aplurality of difierently shaped thin metal tubes in such a manner as toconstruct a circuitous track of any contour desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an amusement devicein which the ends of the tubular sections are joined together in a novelmanner.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an amusement devicein which the endless cable or cord carries engagers attached at desiredintervals along its length for engaging companion engagers on the toyairplanes to move them along the track.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide the toy airplane in suchan amusement device with means to balance it and keep it from tiltingbackwardly or forwardly as it is propelled along the track.

Another object of the invention is to provide a landing platform for thetoy airplanes which also houses the means for propelling the cable orcord through the track.

A further aim of the invention is to provide such an amusement device inwhich the track is supported by weighted standards at desired intervalsalong its length, thereby maintaining the track in a rigid condition.

A further aim of the invention is to provide an amusement device of thecharacter described which is simple in construction, durable andinexpensive.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig, l is a perspective view of the amusement device embodying myinvention and showing several airplanes in difierent positions on thecircuitous track.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, horizontal, longitudinal section of a jointbetween two tubular sections with the cable removed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of the track showing a toyairplane mounted on th track.

Fig. 4 is afragmentary, vertical, longitudinal section of the trackshowing a portion of the cable and a cable engager attached thereto.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section, taken along the correspondinglynumbered line in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal section, taken along thecorrespondingly numbered line in Fig, 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal section, taken along thecorrespondingly numbered line in Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the landing platform. i

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the landing platform. I

Fig. 10 is a side view of one of the standards adapted to support thetrack.

The amusement device embodying my invention includes a landing platformindicated generally by the numeral l0 which comprises a rectangular baseI I, fromeach corner of which rises apost l2 which posts jointly supporta platform made up of two'substantially rectangular sections I 3 and I4.The sections l3 and M are in the same horizontal plane but are in spacedrelation to each other to provide a central longitudinal slot IS. Thecentral portion of the inside margin of each of the sections l3 and I4is recessed so as to provide a rectangular opening I6 when the twosections I 3 and I4 are assembled. The two sections l3 and M are heldsecurely in position by a number of brackets I! which span the slot [5and also support the opposite ends of the track indicated generally atIS. The brackets I! are mounted on the underside of the sections l3 andM.

The tortuous track I9 is made up of a plurality of tubular sections 20joined together, the sections varying in curvature. The tubular sectionsare shown as triangular in cross section, although they may be of otherforms. As shown, each section 20 comprises two laterally outwardlyinclined side walls 2i and 22 joined at their lower edges, the upperportion of each side wall being bent inwardly to provide shoulders 23and 24 spaced to leave a slot 25 therebetween, as shown in Fig. 5. Theslot 25 extends continuously from one end of the track l9 to the other.

Toefiect a simple and smooth joint between the several track sections20, the opposite ends of each track section are of ;female and maleform, as indicated at 21 and 28, to interfit. For this purpose, as bestshown in Fig. 2, each track section 20 is provided at one end with aninternally tapered face 29 which flares outwardly toward the end of thetrack section, the taper extending longitudinally of the track section areasonable distance to provide a substantial surface area. A shallowtransverse groove 30 is provided at the inner edge of the internallytapered face 29, which groove extends across all of the inner surfacesof the triangular tubular track section. The other male end 28 of eachtriangular tubular track section 20 is adapted to be fitted into thefemale end 2'! of another track section and is formed with an externallytapered face 3|, which flares outwardly from the end of the tracksection and terminates in a shoulder 32 which extends transverselyaround the exterior of the track section on all sides, this shoulder 32'forming a stop or abutment for the end edge of the female end 27 joinedthereto. The male end 28 of each track section is provided with anexternal bead 33 which is adapted to interfit the corresponding groove35 in the female end of the tubular track section 2'! fitted thereto.Thus, when the track sections are joined together the male end 23 ofeach track section is inserted within the female end 21 of another tracksection and pushed inwardly until the head 33 snaps into the groove 3%!in which position the internally tapered face 252 will be closelyengaged by the externally tapered face 3i. It will be noted that thisarrangement provides a secure joint between the several triangulartubular sections 2i] to provide a continuous track l9 having smoothinternal and external surfaces.

As a means for propelling the toy airplane along the track 19, the trackis internally provided with an endless cable or cord 35 which can bemade of any suitable flexible material. When used in a triangular track,as shown in the drawings, the cable is preferably also of triangularcross section. The cable 35 passes through all 01 the joined triangulartubular sections 25 making up the circuitous track l9. At desiredintervals along the length of the cable 35 one or more cable engagers 38are attached thereto. Each of these cable engagers 35 is triangular inoutline and is adapted to slide along the internal surfaces of thetriangular tubular track l9 and is provided with a vertical central slot31 which extends from the upper edge thereof downwardly to the top ofthe cable 35 thereby exposing a por tion of the upper surface of thecable.

The endless cable 35 can be moved through the track l9 by any suitabledriving means, the driving means shown comprising a small electric motor38 mounted on the base ll of the landing platform, indicated generallyat in, and a pulley 35 fast to the shaft of the motor 38. As the endlesscable 35 leaves the end of the track 19 it passes over a small pulley 40which is suitably mounted on this end of the track l9. The cable thenpasses around the driving pulley 39 and thence enters the beginning endof the track H] by passing over another small pulley 4| suitably mountedon the beginning end of the track l9. In place of the electric motor 38,a hand driven mechanism or any other suitable driving means can beemployed.

Each of the toy airplanes, generally indicated by the numeral 42, isprovided with a depending post 43, the lower end of which is enlarged toprovide a plane engager 44. Each plane engager 44 rests on the cable 35and is essentially trapeaeeaese zoidal in form to slidingly engage aportion of the internal surfaces of the side walls 2| and 22 of thetrack. Each plane engager 44 is integral with the post 43 and is soformed as to prevent the toy airplane from rocking from side to side. Toprevent the airplane 42 from rocking backwardly or forwardly a balancer45 is employed which consists of a substantially C-shaped memher, thecentral portion of which is swivelly mounted on the post 43, asindicated at I45, the rounded ends of the depending prongs of thebalancer 45 resting on the cable 35.

Weighted standards 45 of any suitable form are clipped to the track atvarious points and serve to support it and keep it stationary. Risingfrom the weighted base of the standard is a central post 41 terminatingin a bifurcated end consisting of a pair of prongs 48 and 49 therebyproviding a v shaped rest for the track IS. The ends of the prongs 48and 49 are provided with small lips 55 and 5| projecting inwardlytherefrom so that when the standard receives the triangular track It thelips 58 and 5t snap over the upper edges of the track thereby firmly yetremovably holding it stationary.

When setting up the amusement device for operation the triangulartubular sections are joined together to form the track of any contourdesired. There may be tubular sections which are straight, curved,irregularly sinusoidal, etc. The cable 35 with one or more cableengagers 36 attached thereto is then threaded through the tubes andaround the pulleys 39, 49 and 4| and its ends joined to form an endlessdrive cable. The plane engager 44 of a toy airplane is then insertedthrough the opening IS in the landing platform Ill, and the toy airplanepushed forwardly until the plane engager 44enters the beginning end ofthe track l9.- The electric motor '38 or other suitable driving means isstarted, thereby causing the cable 35 to be'moved through the track. Asa cable engager 35 approaches the plane engager 44 the vertical slot 31provided in the cable engager is of suflicient width to permit thedepending forward prong of the relatively narrow airplane balancer 45 topass therethrough, the cable engager continuing to move forwardlyrelative to the plane engager until it engages the rear face of theplane engager 44 thereby propelling the toy airplane along the track.The toy airplane is thus propelled along the entire course of the trackby the pushing action of the cable engager against the plane engager,except where the airplane is descending a slope so steep as to cause itto dive, due to the force of gravity, at a faster speed than the speedof travel of the cable 35 through the track. This action simulates apower dive and makes more real the movements of the airplane.

The toy airplane 42 continues to be propelled along the track and as itapproaches the landing platform it presents the appearance of an airlanelanding. The central longitudinal slot I5 in the roof of the landingplatform is of the same width as the slot 25 in the track l9. Thebeginning and terminating ends of the track l9 are secured to theunderside of the roof of the landing platform made up of the twosections l3 and I4 by means of the brackets [1.

In order to prevent the toy airplanes 42 from falling through thecentral opening H5 in the platform I0 after the cable engager 35 leavesthe plane engager 44 to pass around the pulley 39, each airplane isprovided with wheels both at the front and rear ends thereof which willland on and roll along the platform and carry the toy airplane on aneven keel until the plane engager 44 is again engaged by the cableengager 36, the momentum of the airplane as it lands being suflicient topropel it, without the aid of the cable engager 36, across the openingIt in the platform It If it is desired to remove the toy airplane fromthe track it can be done at this point by lifting the airplane togetherwith its plane engager 44 attached thereto through the opening It.

It is to be noted that one or more cable engagers 36 can be attached tothe cable as close together as desired. Where two cable engagers arerelatively close together so that the plane engager of a toy airplane isen aged by each, the two airplanes, one closely following the other,will depict a dog fight or stunting airplanes as they are propelledalong the track. By joining together the tubular sections desired theoperator can construct a track of any desired contour and simulate anydesired stunt or combat flyings.

As a further means for making the actions and movements of the toyairplane more realistic, the electric motor 38 can be equipped with arheostat (not shown) which can be adjusted by the operator to cause theairplane to move slowly on the climbs and faster on the dives.

The tubular sections which when joined toether form. the track can bemade of materials other than metal, and further, the cross sectionalform may be other than triangular.

It will be obvious that many changes can be made within the scope of theclaims, particularly in the manner of driving the toy airplanes. Forexample, the airplanes could be driven by individual motors suppliedwith power from any suitable source and driving the airplane eitherthrough a propeller on the airplane or positively through the track.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides asimple and inexpensive amusement device for simulating the movements ofa stunting or combat airplane in flight by propelling a toy airplanealong an irregularly circuitous track made up of a plurality of tracksections of different curving shapes joined together.

I claim as my invention:

1. A toy amusement device for simulating an aircraft in flight,comprising a miniature aircraft, a single hollow rigid track, means formovminiature aircraft, and means mounted on said platform for movingsaid cable through said track through the spaced opposite ends thereof.

2. A toy amusement device for simulating an aircraft in flight,comprising a miniature aircraft, a hollow rigid track slotted along oneside from end to end thereof, means for movably supporting saidminiature aircraft on said track, an endless cable within said track,means attached to said cable for engaging with said supporting means,means for supporting the opposite ends of said track in spaced alinedrelationship including a platform adapted to receive said miniatureaircraft, said platform being provided with a slot in perpendicularlyalined relationship with said slot provided in said track, and meansinterposed between said opposite ends of said track for moving saidcable through said track.

3. A toy amusement device for simulating an aircraft in flight,comprising a miniature aircraft, a hollow rigid track slotted along oneside from end to end thereof, means extending through said slot formovably supporting said miniature aircraft on said track, an endlesscable Within said track, means attached to said cable for engaging withsaid supporting means, means for supporting the opposite ends of saidtrack in horizontally spaced alined relationship, comprising a base anda platform disposed over said base, said platform being adapted toreceive said miniature aircraft and being provided with a slot inperpendicularly alined relationship with said slot provided in saidtrack, said slot in said platform being enlarged to provide an openingbetween the spaced ends of said track to permit of removal of saidminiature aircraft, and means interposed between the spaced ends of saidtrack for moving said cable through said track comprising a pulleyadjacent each of the ends of said track and a driving mechanism mountedon said base and engaging said cable.

HARRY A. KROLL.

